Sunday, December 31, 2017

This last year proved that when we come together, we can win... and win big.
Whether we tie in the House of Delegates or not—and we still may win this last race—we surpassed every expectation for this year.

Run Everywhere was a significant factor. We ultimately donated hundreds of thousands of dollars towards this effort.

As we move into 2018, we are still funding the recount, but we are also getting ready to get behind a number of new candidates we believe will help us win the House of Delegates outright in 2019 if not sooner.

I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.

Jennifer BoyskoFinance Chair, Virginia Democratic House Caucus.Chair of Run Everywhere.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve written to you to share words from some of your fellow philosophers about why they donate to support the APA...

Your colleagues have spoken about how the APA serves philosophy and philosophers in ways no other organization can. They’ve spoken about how the APA’s diversity and inclusion efforts have helped move the discipline forward, and how the APA brings philosophers together to share their work across disciplinary and subdisciplinary boundaries. And they’ve spoken about how the APA’s advocacy for philosophy and philosophers helps protect and defend individuals, departments, and the field as a whole.

In these final hours before the New Year begins, I am thinking back on all we’ve accomplished this year, and all we have planned for 2018. We will launch new prizes, increase collaborations with other disciplinary societies, develop new resources to support philosophy departments, and hold three outstanding conferences. We will continue to increase the role of graduate students in setting the APA’s future directions, and we will connect more with philosophers outside academia to sustain their connections to the discipline and develop diverse career paths for philosophy PhDs. We will grow our journal, support the academic job market, and stand up for philosophy in the public square.

Five years into my time as executive director, I’m proud of all we’ve achieved, but I know there is so much more to do.

Each and every contribution makes a real difference to our budget—donations mean more travel funding for philosophers in need, more grants to innovative philosophy programs, more prizes recognizing great work, more resources for the crucial efforts of APA committees.

All the best,

Amy FerrerExecutive Director

P.S. If you make a contribution of $500 or more before the end of 2017, you’ll receive a copy of Portraits of American Philosophy (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013). This book is a collection of Dewey Lectures—autobiographical reflections on philosophy in America—by leading philosophers including Judith Jarvis Thomson, Harry Frankfurt, Marilyn McCord Adams, and Claudia Card.

David --When Onward Together launched earlier this year, we were supporting five groups that encourage people to organize for progressive change and to run for office: Indivisible, Color of Change, Emerge America, Swing Left, and Run for Something.Seven months and some incredible victories later, I’m even more proud and inspired to work alongside these organizations.We’ve got big plans for 2018. We aren’t stopping with five organizations, either. Across the country, new groups like these are cropping up, powered by activists of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences -- and we’re working every day to find the most promising and support them.There is so much to be done. Let’s do it together.Thank you,Hillary

Friday, December 29, 2017

Name a bill that's terrible for women, middle class families, or the most vulnerable, and Republicans have tried to pass it.

Which is why we're determined to find strong candidates who can help flip the House AND Senate next year and stop President Trump and congressional Republicans' dangerous agenda.

But we need to support all of our pro-choice Democratic women running for re-election and defeat dozens of vulnerable Republicans to help make that happen.

Republicans' majority control of Congress puts them in a position to pass legislation that's bad for women and families, confirm unqualified judicial nominees, and even put an end to the investigation of Trump's ties to Russia.

But next year, that could change.

We need to re-elect all of our women in Congress and flip 24 seats in the House and two seats in the Senate for Democrats to take control. We've already endorsed 21 red-to-blue challengers to help get it done (with more to come), so taking back both chambers of Congress, with a wave of pro-choice Democratic women, is well within reach.

All of them need our strongest support to win next year and turn Congress blue.

THE GOAL OF THIS PAGE, OR ANY LETTERS I PUBLISH ON THE SITE, IS TO ALLOW POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE, POLITICAL ACTIVISTS, NON-PROFIT GROUPS etc., A CHANCE TO REACH OUT AND COMMUNICATE WITH READERS WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEOLOGY, GOALS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT MAKE THEM WORTHY OF SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION.

I REALIZED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THAT MANY AMERICANS HAVE NO IDEA, BEYOND THEIR OWN STATE OR DISTRICT, THE IMPACT THAT OTHER PUBLIC FIGURES AND GROUPS HAVE ON THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES. I ALSO CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEWS MEDIA WOULD OFTEN IGNORE REAL NEWS THAT RELAYED PRACTICAL AND FACTUAL INFORMATION, FOR MEANINGLESS SOUND BITES FILLED WITH INNUENDO AND GOSSIP. THE LETTERS AND E-MAIL I PUBLISH ARE A WAY FOR THE AUTHOR(S) TO REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, OR EVEN BE AWARE OF THE TRUE PURPOSES AND GOALS THAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THE PUBLIC SPECTRUM.THAT BEING SAID, I AM NOT A FUNDRAISER. THIS PAGE IS NOT SET UP FOR THE PURPOSES OF BROWBEATING OR GUILTING ME, OR ANYONE ELSE, INTO MAKING A DONATION. I DO NOT CHARGE A FEE, ASK FOR AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE SITE ITSELF, OR SEEK A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW AS A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLICATION. HOWEVER, I AM GETTING TIRED OF THE JUVENILE AND CONDESCENDING LETTERS I RECEIVE THAT PRACTICALLY ACCUSE ME OF INDIFFERENCE AND CALLOUSNESS IF MY DONATION IS NOT SENT PROMPTLY.SO, IT IS NOW ONE STRIKE AND YOUR OUT. I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, WHAT PARTY OR IDEOLOGY YOU IDENTIFY WITH, OR HOW "NOBLE" YOUR MISSION IS. THE NEXT LETTER OR E-MAIL I RECEIVE THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE MANNER I HAVE DESCRIBED WILL RESULT IN PERMANENT BANISHMENT FROM THIS SITE. I UNDERSTAND THAT AN INCLUSION OF A REQUEST FOR FUNDS OR DONATIONS IS AUTOMATIC, AND I TAKE THAT IN STRIDE. IT IS THE DEMEANING, JUVENLIE, AND CONDESCENDING CORRESPONDENCE THAT I AM REFERRING TO, AND I WILL NOT TOLERATE IT ANY LONGER- DAVID.

We've picked up a record 15 seats in the House of Delegates -- and we're still fighting hard for the voters of HD-28 and HD-94 to have their voices properly represented in Richmond. We won't stop working until we're confident that every vote has been counted fairly and that (we could have never imaged this would be a thing) voters who live in a district are given the ability to actually vote in the district they live in.

The hard work and dedication of our committed volunteers and supporters made this year possible. I can't tell you how many candidates who are now Delegates-Elect I said the following phrase to, "We want your surfboard waxed and ready for the wave." Thanks to you, we were ready and rode that wave to the biggest Democratic pickup in the modern history of Virginia.

So once again -- THANK YOU -- for your support throughout 2017. House Democrats will continue fighting for voters in HD-28 and HD-94...

Dear DAVID,
The Eastern Division meeting is less than a week away. We hope you’ll join us in Savannah, GA, January 3–6!Online registration is closed, but you can still register on-site at the meeting. The registration desk will open at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3. The on-site registration rates are $175 for APA members, $290 for non-members, and $90 for student members.
The 2018 Eastern Division meeting features 20 exhibitors and over 50 tables. We encourage you to visit our exhibits and spend some time browsing new and popular philosophy titles that will be on display during the meeting. The exhibits will be located near the meeting registration desks on the first floor of the Savannah Convention Center on the River Concourse. The following exhibitors will be on-site:

Brill

Princeton University Press

Cambridge University Press

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Hackett Publishing Company

Springer

Ingram Academic Services

Stance: An Undergraduate Philosophy Journal

Lexington Books

SUNY Press

Mercer University Press

The Prindle Institute for Ethics

Oxford University Press

The Scholar's Choice

Palgrave Macmillan

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Crítica)

Philosopher's Information Center

W. W. Norton

Philosophy Documentation Center

Wiley

All meeting registrants are invited to attend the annual APA prize reception in the exhibit area at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 4. The exhibits will remain open during the prize reception, and wine and cheese will be served. The exhibit hours during the meeting are as follows:

Sunday, December 24, 2017

We knew this year would be a difficult one. But it was also full of fierce passion and hope -- from the millions of people who took to the streets on behalf of the values we share to the activists, newcomers and veterans alike, who lead us to victories in Virginia, Alabama, and across the country. We really have seen that we are stronger together (sorry, couldn't resist).

My wish for you is that you're able to take a break this holiday season and spend some time with the people you love. Bill and I will be celebrating the best way we know how: by sharing our favorite traditions with the youngest members of our family.

2018 will be a big year for this team. I hope you enjoy your holidays -- and come back refreshed and ready to win. I know I will.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Republicans just pulled off one of the biggest cons in the history of American politics. Their job-killing tax bill gives companies even more incentive to ship American jobs overseas. It lays the groundwork for devastating cuts to Medicare and Social Security. It robs working people in order to give even more money to the biggest multi-national corporations and the wealthiest Americans. And it will burden the next generation with more than $1 trillion in debt.

The American people are going to see through this scam. Rhode Island families deserve real tax reform that permanently cuts taxes on middle class families, ends tax breaks that incentivize shipping American jobs overseas, and promotes the creation of good-paying jobs.

How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts

With a little help from Dr. Seuss, earlier this week I shared the story of How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts on the House floor. Unfortunately, unlike the Grinch, Republicans never found their heart and passed a massive tax bill that jeopardizes the future of Medicare, Medicaid and other critical investments in our communities. Republicans may be celebrating this tax scam, but the reality is the American people overwhelmingly oppose this giveaway to billionaires and the biggest corporations. A video of my remarks can be viewed by clicking here .

Children’s Health Insurance

More than 36,000 Rhode Island children and pregnant women rely on the Children’s Health Insurance Program to access high-quality affordable health care. Nationally, nine million children receive health care coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. But due to Republicans’ failure to enact a comprehensive, bipartisan reauthorization of the program, states are running out of money right now and putting the health of millions of children at risk.

Along with my Democratic colleagues in the House, I'll continue to fight for a full reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program. I was proud to stand with my colleagues - Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse and Congressman Langevin - at Meeting Street School last week to demand an immediate vote on reauthorizing this critical investment.

There is no more important responsibility that we have than to protect the health and well-being of America's children. Access to affordable health care is critical if children are to thrive and succeed academically and, ultimately, join the workforce as productive adults.

Government Funding

Yesterday, Republicans passed a short-term spending bill that failed to address any of the urgent needs facing working people. Their bill failed to include a long-term, bipartisan extension of children’s health insurance and makes harmful cuts to critical preventative health care for kids. It failed to ensure that veterans can get the care they need through the VA. Their bill abandons millions of American families who are struggling as a result of the ongoing opiate epidemic.

Republicans sent the American people a clear message this week: If you're wealthy and well-off, they have your back. But if you’re a working person, you’re on your own.

It doesn't have to be that way. Along with my Democratic colleagues, I'm going to keep fighting on behalf of America's working people. Warm Regards,David CicillineMember of Congress

Last night, I voted against something called a "Continuing Resolution" (CR) -- a short term spending bill to fund the government. I want to tell you why, and then ask if you agree with my decision.

Normally I vote for these CRs, but I had to make a different choice last night. I just could not, in good conscience, vote to send Congress home for vacation while leaving so many Dreamers and families who rely on the Children's Health Insurance Program filled with anxiety about their futures over the holiday.

Here's the truth: Republicans in Congress have known about this deadline for months, but they were too busy working toward passing a disastrous tax bill for the ultra-rich and powerful to spend any serious time preparing to take care of the other 99 percent.

So, that's why I voted no. What do you think about my choice?

I also want to be upfront with you about future votes. I will not vote for any long-term deal that betrays Connecticut's values and ignores our priorities. I will never stop fighting for these Dreamers and for families who need our help.

Thanks for letting me know how you feel about my vote.

Chris Murphy.

NORMALLY, SENATOR, I WOULD NOT COMMENT. HOWEVER, I WILL MAKE AN EXCEPTION IN THIS CASE:

YOUR DECISION EXEMPLIFIES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTING LIKE A SELF-INTERESTED POLITICIAN, AND MAKING A DECISION AS A SELFLESS PUBLIC SERVANT, WHO WORKS FOR THE INTERESTS OF ALL,

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Despite publicly saying they want to protect “Dreamers,” Republican leaders are ready to end the year without fixing the mess that President Trump created when he unilaterally repealed President Obama’s DACA program.

Republicans are content to go home and enjoy the holiday with their families, while their inaction will mean 800,000 young people, who are American in every way except they lacked proper documentation when they were brought to the US as kids, will spend their holidays in fear.

It’s unconscionable that we would let 800,000 young people live each day wondering if they will be forced from their homes, their jobs, and the lives they’ve built here in the United States and be sent to a country they don’t know.

That’s why nearly 80% of Americans agree that protecting the legal status of Dreamers is the right thing to do. But, still, Republicans refuse to act.

Let’s be honest: 2017 has been an incredibly challenging year. At this time last year, we were feeling great uncertainty for Planned Parenthood. But here we are, one year later, and I couldn’t be prouder of what the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts has accomplished in partnership with you. In 2017, not only did we resist, but we actually made significant progress in Massachusetts.

We advocated for state policies to protect access to care – and ultimately state lawmakers passed the Contraceptive ACCESS law, safeguarding affordable birth control for 1.4 million women across the state. We helped elect local champions, including a record-breaking number of women of color to the Boston City Council. Time and time again, we rallied, marched, and organized to protect Planned Parenthood patients from “defunding” efforts and to show solidarity with our allies leading the fights for racial justice, LGBTQ equality, and immigrant rights.

This year reminded us, that in the grand scheme of our movement, we must always play the long game. We must always push forward at every level of government, with every tool at our disposal, to protect and expand the health and rights of everyone. We refuse to let our state – and our country – go backwards.

Can Americans double or even triple their incomes this year?

(The Newsletter Center) --Speaking before a packed auditorium Donald Trump revealed the secret economic plan behind his "Make America Great Again" initiative. "It's no secret that the Average American is earning less today than they were before the 2008 recession." Stated Mr. Trump. "The reason is simple. There are people who know how to make money very easily, and they've rigged the system for themselves without sharing their secrets with people who really need it."

"I'm going to change all that" Mr. Trump added.

"It's time that people realized the amazing potential the American people have to create income for themselves and their families. The truth is, the average American can double or even triple their income today without making any changes to their current lifestyle." Mr. Trump went on.

The secret, he says, is in taking advantage of the leverage available on the internet.

"It's no secret that I made my fortune in real estate and television, because those were the best opportunities available at the time. But times have changed. Right now, an average American with no special skills and no investment can go out and start earning income online today."

Mr, Trump says the best opportunity available is a new program called Auto Home Profits which teaches regular people to take advantage of this massive internet opportunity quickly and easily, and even places them with real online companies that pay them for their time comlpeting simple tasks.

"Shelly Davis is absolutely changing the world with her Auto Home Profits program" he said. "Normally, rich people keep the secrets to their wealth to themselves. But Sara, she has found an amazing opportunity, and she is sharing it with everyone. That's incredible."

Trump has not hidden his affection for Ms. Davis. He has recently been praising her on social media for her efforts to teach regular people how to create amazing wealth in their spare time.

We investigated the claims made by Mr. Trump and Ms. Davis, and what we found is nothing short of amazing.

Ms. Davis has been selectively sharing her program with a few exclusive students before the public debut, and the results have been nothing short of spectacular. We interviewed several of Ms. Davis' students and have found similar results among all of her students.

Theresa Andrews of Lehi , 28 never thought that she would work online, until curiosity got the best of her and she ordered Ms. Davis' Auto Home Profits. Before she knew it, she discovered her secret to beating the recession, and being able to provide for her family while at home with her three children.

I heard about Theresa from a colleague last month and decided to feature her story in our weekly consumer report. In our phone interview she told me her amazing story. "I actually make about $6,000-$8,000 a month working from home online. It's enough to comfortably replace my old jobs income, especially considering I only work about 15-18 hours a week from my own home online. It gives me so much time to spend with my family."

A check Theresa recently received using the Auto Home Profits System

Working online has been a financial windfall for Theresa, who struggled for months to find a decent job but kept hitting dead ends. "I lost my job shortly after the recession hit, I needed reliable income, I was not interested in the "get rich quick" scams you see all over the internet. Those are all pyramid schemes. I just needed a legitimate way to earn a living for me and my family. The best part of working online is that I am always home with the kids. Thanks to the Auto Home Profits System I am now giving my kids the childhood they deserve."

I asked her about how she started her remarkable journey. "It was pretty easy, I saw the invitation from Shelly Davis about the Auto Home Profits program and I was immediately interested. I knew about Shelly Davis from TV and knew she was legit, and since they offered a "3-Month Satisfaction Guarantee" - I figured I really had nothing to lose. so I invested in the course.

"I got the course and within five weeks I had made over $8,000!!! It's really simple, I am not a computer whiz, but I can use the internet. I follow Shelly Davis' simple instructions. I don't even have to sell anything and nobody has to buy anything from me". There are still a few positions available at the time of this report, you should try it.

The companies you work with are worth over 100 billion dollars and are the most used sites in the internet market place, like Amazon, Google, Walmart, Delta, Apple and more... You're using the top ranked sites in the world, over 50 percent of all internet traffic flows through them everyday. It's a great opportunity and this has been helping people work at home online for over 5 years. Why not get in with the internet's best and biggest companies?

There are plenty of scams on the internet claiming you can make $50,000 a month, but that is exactly what they are, scams. This kit, however, is not definately not one of those! From my conversation with Theresa, "I am making a good salary from home online, which is amazing, under a year ago I was jobless in a horrible economy. Today I make about $80/Hr and I don't even have to leave the house. I thank God every day that I filled out that form and got my Auto Home Profits access just minutes later"

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THE "CLIENT" IS DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER HALF DOZEN OR SO

THAT I HAVE PRESENTED ON THIS SITE.

- AUTO HOME PROFITS. (HERE.)

PREVIOUS EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

- INCOME FOR AMERICA.

- Financial Independence Academy.- HOME CASH CODE.

BASICALLY IT'S THE SAME SCAM.KEEP IN MIND, AS TIME GOES ON, THAT THE DEMOCRATICLEADERSHIP HAS DONE NOTHING TO STOP THIS, OR EVENMAKE IT KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC.LET'S KEEP SCORE:FINANCIAL SCAMS ENDORSED BY TRUMP- BEFORE AND AFTER THE ELECTION.SUPREME COURT GIVEN TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTYWITHOUT A FIGHT.RIGGED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION- DEMOCRATS BLAMEEACH OTHER FOR THE LOSS, IGNORING THE EVIDENCETHAT VOTE TOTALS WERE ALTERED BY OUTSIDE SOURCES.REFUSING TO USE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDSTO FIGHT THE NEW "TAX PROGRAM."

We need a simpler tax code that levels the playing field for small businesses and working families.

But this bill does not do that.

My opponent, Bob Gibbs, just voted to raise taxes on working families – 83 million will see an increase in the next decade. He voted to give tax breaks to wealthy corporations, to cut Medicare, and to raise healthcare premiums for the rest of us.

And he did all of this without bipartisan support.

If you went to your job and decided to work with only half of the people there, you would be fired. And everyone would understand. It is time we held Congress to the same standards that we hold ourselves.

If I have the honor of representing the good people of Ohio, I will advocate for commonsense solutions -- a simpler tax code, a level playing field, a transparent process. And I will work with folks on both sides of the aisle to get that job done.

It's time for a new generation of leadership in Washington. It is time for our representatives to put the needs of this country above the whims of a political party.

John Faso’s Republican allies just voted -- for the second time -- to pass a tax bill that will be destructive to the 19th District.

GOP leadership gave Faso permission to vote against the bill -- but only because they knew it was going to pass. His vote was entirely to protect himself in 2018, and came after he actually praised the bill for helping small businesses when it does the exact opposite.

The tax scheme sticks working people with the bill for a huge giveaway to big corporations and the super-rich, sets the stage for devastating cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and bloats our national debt.

And yet, once again, Faso sat on the fence to appease his Republican donors...

If I knew a bill would harm my constituents, I wouldn't rest until I convinced my colleagues to find a better solution.

The people of this district -- and this country -- deserve better than the repeated failures of leadership that have defined John Faso’s time in Washington.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

My name is Jason Rittereiser, and I am running for Congress in Washington's 8th District, one of the top congressional races in the country this year as we seek to put a check on Donald Trump's dangerous agenda.

Growing up in a small town, I learned the difference between right and wrong, and the value of hard work.

I started my career as a prosecutor for King County, where I worked every day to protect our community and hold criminals accountable. Now, as a lawyer, I fight for employees who have been cheated by big business and big corporations.

I have taken on billionaires, corporations, and even government to fight for what’s right – one case at a time. The problem is our Congress is selling off America and making life harder for working families – one law at a time.

Members of Congress are bought and paid for by special interests...They are doing their bidding, not ours.

Republicans in Congress voted to take healthcare away from thousands of people in Washington, just to give billionaires more tax breaks. They voted to build roads in Iraq instead of fixing our own roads and creating jobs in our own community. They voted to gut the Environmental Protection Agency and to take money away from our farmers and clean energy projects. They voted to dismantle the Ethics office in Congress and even voted to hide Trump’s tax returns.

I’m running for Congress to stand up for what’s right...

This isn’t about Democrats and Republicans, this is about right and wrong.

From Protest to Power

The House of Representatives passed the GOP Tax Scam by 24 votes. The Senate could vote as early as tonight. We are fighting the tax scam by jamming their phone lines to demand our Members of Congress vote no. Keep the heat on by calling your Senators now.

The rich and big corporations are about to get what President Donald Trump called “a big beautiful Christmas present.” GOP politicians have sold their souls to pay back their billionaire donors. Wall Street is about to have a party at our expense even though two thirds of people know that the tax scam will help the rich instead of working and middle class families and the poor.

There must be a political price to pay for the tax scam. If we can’t change the minds of GOP Members of Congress, then it’s time to change who is in office.

We call this a tax scam because the vast majority of tax cuts go to the wealthiest people and corporations. Meager tax cuts for working and middle class families will expire in 2025. The tax scam will starve the government and soon the GOP will come for your Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. It will drive 13 million from their health care plans.

This is a disaster from top to bottom. The tax scam pays for corporate tax cuts by increasing individual income taxes on poor and middle-class Americans in the long run.